Apparatus for cleaning fabrics and the like



y 3 A. TRAUBE APPARATUS FOR CLEANING FABRICS AND THE LIKE Filed May 14, 19:57 a She'ets-Sheet 1 I SQ: I u 2 1 r r 7 v A INVENTOR hraham T Q s13 ATTORNEY July 4, 1939. AJTRAUBE i APPARATUS FOR CLEANING FABRICS AND THE LIKE Filed May 14, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Ahraham Traubg j ATTORNEY Ju1y4,l939. A. TRAUBE 2,164,965-

I APPARATUS FOR CLEANING FABRICS AND THE LIKE Filed May 14, 1937- :s Sheets-Sheet :s

4b EVATTIORNEYV v Patented July 4, 1939 APPARATUS roa CLEANING FABRICS AND 1 THE LIKE Abraham 'lraube, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application May 14, 1937, Serial No. 142,566

4 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in cleaning fabric and the like and more particularly to apparatus comprising means for sup-' plying cleaning fluid to the fabric to be cleaned and for scraping or rubbing the fabric to remove spots, such as hard paint spots, stains, etc. The vapparatus comprises a hand device such as used in dry-cleaning establishments in what isknown as spot-cleaning for the removal of paint spots and the like.

One object of the invention is to provide apparatus comprising a hand device including an improved scraping implement and means for supplying cleaning fluid to the scraping edge thereof. A further object is to provide a stationary container in combination with a hand-operated scraping device and a flexible connection from the said container to said device. A still further object is to provide a hand device comprising a scraper, a brush, and a valve control for regulating a supply of cleaning fluid from a remote container.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel constructions and arrangements of parts hereinafter described, -illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims,

it being understood that various changes in the forms, and minor details may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the apparatus with the hand device shown in plan view;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the hand device shown partly in section;

Figs. 3 and 4 are further enlarged views showing the hand device in use for scraping and for brushing respectively;

Fig. 5 is a view of the device lookingin the direction of the arrow 5 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an inverted plan view of the device;

Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 but showing a modified form of the complete apparatus and with the hand device shown partly in section; and

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing another modification. Y v

,The hand device shown on the drawings comprises a hollow handle l carryinga curved nozzle member ll having a scraping edge l2 and having a discharge outlet l3 for the cleaning fluid. The device is also formed with a suitably inc-lined member H for engagement by the palm of the hand when the device is in use, as shown at Figs. 3 and 4. A socket member i is also provided for the reception of a flat faced removable brush l5, andthe arrangement is such that when the scraping edge I! is in'engagement with the surface I! being cleaned the brush i6 is clear of the said surface, and when the brush is in use as shown at Fig. 4 the scraper i2 is raised from the surface ll. The construction of the device is such that slight tilting or rocking movement .-of the hand very conveniently brings either the scraper or the brush into its operative position,-

sothat scraping and brushing operations may be conveniently performed without loss of time or. energy in changing from one operation to another. The device is also provided with a leather or other like strap l8 which passes over the back of the 'hand of the user when'the device is in operation and the arrangement provides a convenient grip to facilitate the scraping and brushing operations and the manipulation of the fluid control as hereinafter described.

In the form, of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1

the cleaning spirit or other volatile fluid as comnionly used for softening paint spots and the like is carried in an elevated container I9 which is inverted and supported from a yoke so that the fluid may pass by gravity through a restricted outlet 2| and: through a flexible tube 22 to the hollow member ll] of the hand device. The container i9 is also provided with an internal tube 24 extendingupwardly to a point above the level of the fluid when the container is in its inverted position, as shown in Fig.' l, and the external air inlet end of this member 24 is provided with a suitable regulating device 23 whereby the admission of air may be regulated to suit requirements.

As shown at Fig. 2 of the drawings, the hand device is also provided with a thumb-button 25 which is secured on the outer end of a stem 26 connected to a valve 21 which is held on its seat by a spring 28, and when the button 25 is pressed inwardly by the thumb the valve 21 is raised from its seat against the action of the spring 28 and cleaning fluid is' permitted to pass from the bore 29 in the member ID to a. bore 30 in the nozzle ll, so that cleaning fluid is delivered to the surface I! being cleaned. As is clearly shown at Figs. 3 and 4, the thumb conveniently rests upon the bottom 25 so that the supply of fluid to the cleaning surface is always under-complete and convenient control.

The modified form of appartus shown atFig. 7 comprises a fluid-containing tank 3| which is preferably located at a lower level than the hand device when in use. This container 3| is provided with an internal, dependent tube 22 extending to a point near the bottom -of the container. and communicating with a flexible tube 33 by meansof which fluid maybe supplied to a bore 34 in the hand device, which latter is also formed with a cylindrical cavity 35 containing a piston 38 connected to a stem 31 havingabutton 38' on its outer end, and having a spring 39 in compression between the said button 28 and the device. Between the said bore 34 and the cylindrical cavity 35 a non-retum valve 40 is provided, and a passage 4| leads from the cavity 35 to the nozzle ii and has a non-return valve 42 therein. the said valves 40 and 42 being provided with springs 43, 44 respectively, so that reciprocation of the piston 36 by means of the button 38 first forces air and then fluid outwardly through the nozzle H and causes a flow of cleaning fluid from the container 3| through-the tube 32 and the flexible tube 33, and by way of the valves 40 and 42 to the nozzle II. The container 3| may thus be located at a level lower than the working position of the hand device, and while airis admitted to the container 3| through a controlled air inlet 45, fluid may be raised by the pumping action above referred to so as to deliver a proper quantity as and when required to the scraping edge of the nozzle H. As there is no gravity feed from the container 3i, according to this arrangement, the possibilty of leakage'of the highly volatile and inflammable cleaning fluid is effectively prevented.

In the modified form of the apparatus shown at Fig. 8, a sealed tank 46 contains the cleaning liquid, and a flexible air tube 41 is connected to a cap 48 on the container and to a bore 49 in the hand device which latter is also formed with a cylindrical cavity 50 communicating with the said bore 49 and having a cup-leather piston i operated by a stem 52 having a thumb button 53 and a return spring 54. The bore 49is provided with a non-return valve 55 having a, spring 55 and as the piston 5| is reciprocated by means of a button 53 air is drawn inwardly through a vent 51, raises the valve 55-and passes through the air tube 41 so that pressure is exerted in the container 46 above the level of the cleaning fluid which is thus caused to pass upwardly through an internal pipe 58 which extends downwardly from the said cap 48 to a point close to the bottom of the container. From the pipe 58 the fluid is forced through a flexible pipe 59 to a bore 60 in the hand device, so that fluid is thus supplied by air pressure to the nozzle H. I

The nozzle II and brush ii are preferably attached to the hand ,device in such manner that they may be conveniently removed in order to permit replacement as these parts become worn out, and as shown particularly at Fig. 6 the nozzle ll may be provided with a set screw 6| adapted to contact with a hollow nipple 62 upon which the nozzle may be fltted. The brush '6 is preferably fltted into a tapered socket l5 so that it may be readily and conveniently removed for' replacement.

Although the drawings and the above specification disclose the best modes in which I have contemplated embodying my invention, I desire to be in no way limited to the details of such disclosure, for in the further practical application of my inventionmany changes in forms and constructions maybe made as circumstances require or experience suggests without departing from the spirit of the invention within the'scope of the "appended claims.

What I claimis:

1. A portable hand operated device for use in spot-cleaning" fabrics comprising a body part, a nozzle projecting from the body part for conveying cleaning fluid to the surface being cleaned,

a scraping edge on the end of the nozzle, a resaid face is disposed at a slight angle to the said surface when the latter is engaged by the scraping edge, and a flexible strap connected at its ends to said body and holding the latter in close engagement with the hand.'

2. A portable hand operated device for use in spot-cleaning fabrics comprising a hollow body, a curved nozzle projecting outwardly and downwardly from the body, a rigid scraping edgeon the nozzle, a restricted fluid outlet at the said edge, a hollow nipple on the body for removably receiving the nozzle, a socket in the underside of the body, a flat-faced brush removably secured in the socket in such a position that its flat face engages the surface being cleaned only when the scraping edgeis slightly raised from the said surface, and that the said face is disposed at a slight angle to the said surface when the latter is engaged by the scraping edge, and

-a flexible strap attached to the device and adapted to hold the-device in close contact with the hand so that the fingers may'press upon the said curved nozzle.

3. A portable hand-operated device for use in "spot-cleaning" fabrics by alternately brushing and scraping, which comprises a rigid body member having a protuberance for engagement with the palm of the hand, a flexible strap secured at,

- faced brush secured to the underside of the body,

and a scraping edge on the lower extremity of said extension and located in close proximity to the plane of the working face of said brush, so that a slight angular tilting movement is sufficient to change the device from the brushing to the scraping operation, means for directing cleaning fluid to the scraping edge, and a fluidcolitrol member conveniently located for actuation by the hand without removal of the hand from' the brushing and scraping positions.

4. A portable hand-operated device for use in spot-cleaning" fabrics, comprising a brush and a scraper located in close proximity to the plane of the working face of the brush but spaced from the brush itself, a body part having an inclined member for engagement with the palm of the hand and a curved depending member carrying the scraper and shaped for engagement by the fingers, means for supplying cleaning fluid to the scraper, a control member for said fluid, and a flexible strap connected to the device and holding same in close engagement with the palm of the hand and with the fingers whereby the said fluidcontrol device may be conveniently actuated without releasing the grip and while pressure is being exerted by the flngers upon the scraper, a slight tilting movement of the device being sufllcient to change from one to the other of the brushing and scraping positions.

' ABRAHAM TRAUBE. 

